Senior IP Counsel - Patents

Job Summary: Ecolab Inc. is a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that provide and protect, clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy environments. With $16 billion in sales, Ecolab delivers comprehensive programs and services to the food, energy, healthcare, industrial and hospitality markets in more than 170 countries. 

Join a stable, growing, global Fortune 500 company as an experienced Senior IP Counsel to help protect our valuable portfolio of patents and trade secrets and advise the business on intellectual property matters regarding our important technologies. This person will be an integral member of the Legal team.

Position Details:

• Position Location: Eagan, MN (Hybrid)
• 60% (3 days per week) in our Eagan office
• Option to work remotely 40% (2 days per week)

What’s In It For You:

• The opportunity to help protect the innovations of a global sustainability leader taking on some of the world’s most meaningful challenges, including offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life, maintain clean and safe environments, and optimize water conservation and energy use.
• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth.
• The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives and ideas to achieve our goals and make a positive impact on the world.

What You Will Do:

• Manage global patent clearance, prosecution, and enforcement activities for Ecolab’s businesses and technology areas relating to energy, digital, and controls.
• Advise and consult with clients in all levels of the organization, including senior leadership, to identify and assess critical patent and trade secret legal matters, including guidance regarding protection, enforcement, and risk mitigation.
• Responsible for patent related due diligence for M&A matters and post-acquisition integration activities.
• Work with members of various internal and external teams on negotiations and drafting of licenses, acquisitions, and other business and settlement agreements.
• Develop and provide global in-house training and education on patents, trade secrets, and intellectual property related agreements.

Minimum Qualifications:

• JD degree with strong academic performance.
• Chemistry and equipment related education and/or technical experience.
• Admitted to practice law and in good standing.
• Registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
• Possess 7+ years of experience, preferably at top law firms and/or in-house, with at least 4 years of law firm practice managing global patent prosecution and portfolio strategy.
• Experience with efficiently and effectively conducting patent clearance searches and FTO analyses.
• Strong knowledge of US and international patent procedures, prosecution, clearance, and enforcement.
• Experience managing patent paralegals and directing foreign counsel.
• Ability to form strong relationships with business leaders and communicate with them effectively.
• Exemplary organizational skills and impeccable attention to detail.
• Ability to proactively manage a high volume of tasks with competing deadlines through time management and establishing priorities.
• Resourcefulness, sound judgment, and tact to appropriately handle requests from all levels, including senior management.

The base salary range for this position is $174,720.00 - $262,080.00. This position is eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentives based on performance, per plan terms. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.

Benefits 

Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits. 

If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here. 

Potential Customer Requirements Notice

To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:

- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.  

Our Commitment to a Culture of Inclusion & Belonging
At Ecolab, we believe the best teams are inclusive. We are on a journey to create a workplace where every associate can grow and achieve their best. We are committed to fair and equal treatment of associates and applicants and recruit, hire, promote, transfer and provide opportunities for advancement based on individual qualifications and job performance. In all matters affecting employment, compensation, benefits, working conditions, and opportunities for advancement, we will not discriminate against any associate or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, genetic information, marital status, age, disability, or status as a covered veteran.

In addition, we are committed to furthering the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) through Affirmative Action (AA).

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.